The small Melaleuca trees in the dry Queensland bush – small, thin and bent like ageing jockeys. They have paper bark and scant yellow bottlebrush flowers. In a favourite haunt, there was one that I could climb when I was a thin-limbed pre-adolescent.
above black rocks
a child’s legs swing
magical thinking
At Blackheath boarding school, at the back of the sports field, the poinciana tree. Poincianas have such a beautiful umbrella shape and this was a good climbing tree. Someone had hoisted an old bed-base up there. It sagged like a hammock and was a good place for hiding from teachers when you were meant to be doing sport, and a good place for teenage dreaming.
vermillion flowers
against forever blue
we discuss boys
The pine trees at the bottom of our place, like guard trees. Growing underneath: daffodils, jonquils, ixias and daisies. Our children sat down there in spring with green light in their hair.
the grandchild
skirts around the monster
her mother’s rusted swing
The kids’ old tree feels like a family member. A very ancient stringy bark, it housed their swings and ladders, and the tree house that Dirk built, putting his back into it, his muscles and will, on the edge of manhood. The kids are adults now and it died in the drought three summers back.
a requiem of mist
for the old man tree
that our children climbed
There are many more trees that I could mention and it seems that they all involve dreaming. Time and cares dissolve into the gentle movement of leaves or the fatherly bulk of their trunks. Space appears between thoughts.
night tree
moonlight glints
on waxy leaves
Belinda Broughton 
The first post I’ve read today — first in point in time and first in the lovely race to haiku perfection.
This day, may you be blessed with the knowledge of the joy you give others. 🙂
Ron
thank you SO much Ron. I often get a bit blue. But to know that I give joy, gives me joy. I promise to remember all day. (and it’s early morning)
Did I mention that I’m totally and absolutely in love with your haiku! 🙂
❤
Really loved this series — it’s beautiful – and the poinciana tree made me smile 😀
🙂
WOW! Belinda this is a beautiful haibun-like post and all those wonderful haiku are so great and well composed … really I am starting to become a fan of your writings and other art-work.
Thanks Kristjaan. I had a lovely time with this… (lovely prompts this month btw. I missed a week or so out of sorts but I’m back again now.
Khalil Gibran is one of favorite philosophers and poets
he was probably the first philosopher I read. I would have been twelve years old when Mum gave me The Prophet. Young as I was, it spoke to me.
This reminds me of all the old friends I’ve had over the years that were trees. Thanks. ((a little teary))
They really are like members of one’s family aren’t they. I guess they are. Do you know that Native American saying, ‘All My Relations’?
‘It is a prayer of oneness and harmony with all forms of life: other people, animals, birds, insects, trees and plants, and even rocks, rivers, mountains and valleys.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitakuye_Oyasin
Thanks for the link. I have kin who are rocks. I once had a sister who was a only a trickle along the back field.
yes. all of It . but some speak louder to you, and others just hone to put my forehead on when I despair, and my back against when I need some strength. also a couple of stones that I have been carrying from house to house since I was a teen. we are funny animals.
There are grand swaths of pink volcanic granite along the English channel on the north coast of France that sing loud enough for me to hear from here. I keep a stone from there to soothe my forehaed when they do so I don’t jump on a plane and go to them. Yes. We are funny creatures.
a good deal cheaper! and less bureaucracy.
Yup! 😉